2 more Jawzjan women found dead

SHIBERGHAN (Pajhwok): Two women have allegedly committed suicide in the Mangjik district of northern Jawzjan province, an official said on Sunday.

Col. Abdul Malik Mamnoon, crime branch chief, said one woman died after drinking acid, while the cause of the second woman’s death remained unknown. But a brother of the second woman accused her in-laws of killing his sister.

Mamnoon said Meera, 25, committed suicide because her husband had decided to marry another girl in neighbouring Faryab. A resident of Chahar Changhawi village, she had married six months ago.

About the second woman identified as Zakira, the official said, police had launched an investigation to ascertain whether she had really committed suicide or was killed.

He said Zakira’s brother had accused her husband and in-laws of killing his sister after she came out of toilet and was entering her room. But Mamnoon said they had not been provided any evidence.

Shiberghan civil hospital chief said bodies of the two women were brought to the hospital by police. He said the woman, who died after drinking acid, was pregnant and the second had no signs of torture on her body.

Maghfirat Samimi, human rights director for Faryab, Sar-i-Pul and Jawzjan provinces, said mysterious killing of women inside their houses had dramatically increased.

In other incidents, six militants including a commander were captured in in northern Baghlan and southeastern Paktia province the National Directorate of Security (NDS) said.

Five militants were held during a search operation in Baghlan province, the NDS said in a statement, which added the detainees had confessed to planning insurgent activities.

Separately, a notorious Taliban commander was arrested in the Dand-e-Patan district of Paktia province, the crime branch chief said.

Brg. Gen. Ghulam Dastagir Rustamyar told Pajhwok Afghan News Bismillah was arrested last night in Qimati Valley.

nh/ma/mud

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